<p>Hi Actor12 – I think you’re talking about Mary Anna Dennard’s new online College Audition prep program? I cannot post a link here, but you can find a tutorial on YouTube. (I will PM you the link – I think you’ll find it is very useful.) I think the site is a bargain. It isn’t online coaching, it is a suite of videos/podcasts/resources and organizational tools to prepare you for your college auditions. In addition to videos of master classes with heads of leading MT programs (Texas State, Carnegie Mellon – which you can view over and over) you also get the sweet audition master planner. To me, that alone is worth the investment, considering how much time I spent organizing my boys’ audition rep / schedules / etc. There are dozens of high schools already using the program, so you might to ask your/your child(s) counselor if they are a member? You might be able to view the site at school to get a better feel for it. Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me at any time for more info. :)</p>
<p>We are using a wonderful local coach for my daughter, who has had every child she’s coached get a MT spot, nd yesterday confirmed why I would advise coaching to others. My daughter met with her coach, and she had targeted two monologues and two songs for her auditions. Her coach liked the two monologues, and liked her up tempo song. But when my daughter sang her ballad, her coach told her that if she used that song she would not be accepted anywhere. Not that she didn’t do the song well, but that it is an oversued song that would turn off those she would auditon in front of. Now, there’s no way her mother or I would have ever thought that; we would have encouraged her to do that song since she sings it so well. Even her vocal coach who picked the song apparently did not know. But her audition coach did. So while my daughter was disapponted yesterday, she knows it gives her plenty of time to find a similar song, and with 3 of the 4 songs/monologues picked out she can start focusing on prepration.</p>
<p>Without a coach like my daughter’s we’d be lost. Even things like what dress to wear for auditions (she had my daughter bring two for her to see, and she had her wear a very nice solid color dress vs one with a pattern because the pattern would distract attention from my daughter’s face), how to interact with the accompanist, little details I never would have dreamed of she is on top of. Money well spent!</p>
I am planning to read this whole thread but can anyone PM recommendations for coaches? And for those who found local help did you go to any acting teacher or ones specifically for Drama school auditions?
Since the last post on this thread is three years old, it might be better to start a new thread if you have questions
Check this newer post
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1732979-college-coaching.html
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. Use old posts for research only, but do not resurrect. Start a new discussion to ask a question.
We found using a coach to be extremely beneficial due to a lack of knowledgable expertise specific to musical theater college auditions in our area. We have great voice teachers here. We have wonderful directors and acting teachers here. And we have fabulous dance teachers. But none of them were versed in the world of college auditions. Please be aware that being a great teacher in those skills does not make you knowledgable about the college audition process. Make sure you work with someone who understands the process - from how many schools you need to apply to, to what sort of material works in the audition room, to how to create your prescreen videos … this is all important to your success. Work with someone who knows the process. I cannot stress this enough. Every year you read about kids whose teachers could not believe they did not get into one of the few schools they applied to because they felt their talent was superior. It probably is. But you have to be more than talented to navigate college auditions. For us, the college audition coach was in addition to the regular skills training done at home.
We used Mary Anna Dennard (Moo). We worked with her mainly via Skype as we live far away from TX where she resides. And she connected us with a song coach in NYC who was incredible that helped with song selection and presentation as well as technique. We worked with him via Skype also. Having a coach definitely lessened the stress for us in this process. Having guidance on everything from developing a list of schools, to choosing audition material, to support throughout the auditions and decision making process were invaluable. Moonifieds in November is a huge plus. Having some early acceptances and concrete feedback on audition material was really worthwhile. As I have mentioned in other threads, the camaraderie among the Moo Crewers was incredibly important as well. The kids shared in each other’s successes and rejections, kept each other posted on what to expect at auditions, when to expect a response, etc… It was very nice to feel you were in this together with such kind, caring people.
You can work with Mary Anna in many different ways so the cost will vary. We spent between $2000 - $2500 in working with her for 1 1/2 years (we started Spring of D’s junior year). As many have mentioned, we feel it was money well spent. If you do nothing else, please look at a copy of Mary Anna’s book, “I Got In”. It’s a fantastic resource for all things to do with the college audition process. You can keep it with you to refer back to over and over again.
Obviously we were very pleased with Mary Anna. But there are many good coaches out there. Do your homework. See whose personality fits well with your family. Determine whose costs and schedule work well for you. And figure out what will be best for your student. None of these coaches is a magician. Their job is to inform and prepare. They cannot promise you admission in to any program. If someone does promise you admission, run the other way. And, if you have great resources in your community, know that every year many kids do get in great programs who do not use a coach. You just need to figure out for yourself what works best for your family. Best wishes in this fun and crazy adventure!